Oakland Raiders: Free agent waters can be tested Friday night

ALAMEDA -- Seventeen Raiders players scheduled for unrestricted free agency will begin to get an idea of their worth on the open market beginning Friday night.

In advance of start of the new NFL year Tuesday, agents can begin contract talks with prospective teams starting at 9 p.m. Friday on the West Coast.

Teams can't talk to players from other teams, schedule visits or strike deals until Tuesday, but the window provides both sides a head start on the process.

Among the most notable Raiders open to the highest bidder include strong side linebacker Philip Wheeler, tight end Brandon Myers, defensive tackles Richard Seymour and Desmond Bryant and punter Shane Lechler.

The seventeen free agents started a combined 100 games for the Raiders in 2012.

The Raiders began the week with just under $1.5 million in salary cap space with 46 players under contract and are reportedly hoping to restructure existing deals to create additional room, most notably with quarterback Carson Palmer.

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Palmer is scheduled to make $13 million in salary and has a cap number of $15 million. He has been mostly quiet on the issue all offseason, telling CSN-Bay Area this week via e-mail ``Not sure what's going to happen. Would love to be back in Oakland and compete.''

If the Raiders are seeking to reduce Palmer's salary, rather than simply change the payout for cap purposes, it remains to be seen whether Palmer would be amenable or take his chances on being released and playing somewhere else.

One player expected to be released Tuesday is middle linebacker Rolando McClain, who was kept on the roster last season despite losing his job and being suspended for conduct detrimental to the team because cutting him would have meant a salary cap acceleration which would forced the team to release additional players.

Other players who could be in line for restructure or release include defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, defensive end David Tollefson and wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Wheeler, signed for the veteran minimum of $700,000 last season, led the Raiders with 98 solo tackles, three sacks, six passes defensed and was their most consistent defensive player.

Myers led the Raiders in receiving with 79 receptions for 806 yards and four touchdowns.

Given the inclination of general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen to hold the line on salaries whenever possible and build through the draft, the Raiders aren't expected to be in the mix for two of their most decorated players, Seymour and Lechler.

The Raiders confirmed a free agent visit Wednesday with Cullen Jenkins, a veteran defensive end and tackle released by the Eagles who played in Green Bay when McKenzie was in the personnel department there.

The Raiders lone restricted free agent, cornerback and punt return specialist Phillip Adams cannot have his agent begin negotiations with another team until Tuesday.